INDIANAPOLIS — In a dramatic finish to the game, Tyrese Haliburton executed a remarkable four-point play, propelling the Indiana Pacers to a surprising 115-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. With only 3.4 seconds remaining on the clock, Haliburton received an inbounds pass from Andrew Nembhard along the left sideline. Despite losing balance and falling out of bounds, Haliburton managed to take a contested 3-pointer, drawing contact from Giannis Antetokounmpo. As Haliburton lay sprawled on the floor, the ball swished through the hoop.
Following the successful basket, Haliburton stepped to the free throw line, confidently sinking the shot to give Indiana a narrow one-point advantage. In the ensuing dramatic moments, Antetokounmpo quickly pushed the ball up the court for Milwaukee, getting off a clean 3-point shot attempt before the buzzer. However, his attempt fell short, finalizing the Pacers’ unexpected triumph and leveling them with Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference standings.
Returning from a three-game absence due to a hip injury, Haliburton recorded a double-double, contributing 14 points and 10 assists for his team. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Bennedict Mahturin chipped in with 17 points.
For the Bucks, Brook Lopez stood out with a team-high 23 points, while Antetokounmpo contributed 19 points and 17 rebounds to the effort. In the final quarter, Indiana held a 103-93 lead with just over eight minutes remaining. However, a decisive 10-0 scoring run from Milwaukee, capped by a 3-pointer from Gary Trent Jr., brought the game to a tie. From there, the lead swung back and forth with no team gaining more than a five-point advantage.
In some notable takeaways, Damian Lillard provided 15 points and 11 assists for Milwaukee, including two crucial free throws with just under four seconds left to edge their lead to 114-111. Nonetheless, it wasn’t sufficient to counter the Pacers’ late-game surge and Haliburton’s heroics.
The officials reviewed Haliburton’s stunning shot and confirmed the foul on Antetokounmpo, determining that Haliburton wasn’t allowed space to land properly. Statistically, the Pacers committed only nine turnovers, which was six fewer than the Bucks.
Looking ahead, the Bucks will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, while the Pacers are set to face Philadelphia on Friday night.
